In a press release dated July 8, 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that Americans in the United States continue to gain weight: 30 percent of the population in six states are classified as obese, and 25 percent of the population in 32 states fall into this category. Among the multitude of diet plans and diet programs available, the Atkins Diet has demonstrated positive results for weight loss; however, medical professionals remain concerned about the long-term side effects.
Risks
On their website, in the article entitled "Nutrition Fact Sheet: Atkins' Diet," Northwestern University cites health risks such as cardiac problems, elevated cholesterol, osteoporosis, gout and kidney stones. It also points out the difficulty of sticking with a diet that attempts permanent elimination of simple carbohydrates routinely consumed--such as sweets and snack foods--and indicates the lack of information regarding long-term success of the diet beyond a period of 12 months. Side effects listed in the article include bad breath, constipation and fatigue.
On his website, Dr. John A McDougall agrees that a significant amount of weight can be lost following the Atkins Diet, but warns against possible damage to health. Dr. McDougall offers a list of the major health organizations opposed to high-fat/high-protein diets, including the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society, and lists additional possible side effects that include strokes, diabetes and obesity.
(Note: Dr. McDougall is an advocate of vegetarian diets.)
Benefits
Consumer Affairs, January 28, 2008, reports the effect of studies using a modified version of the Atkins Diet in the treatment of children and adults suffering from epileptic seizures. Although the mechanism that enables a ketogenic (high-protein/low-carbohydrate) diet to work is not yet understood in relation to its effect upon epilepsy, it appears to prevent or limit the number of seizures. Science Daily, February 1, 2005, reported similar studies conducted with high-fat, low-carbohydrate diets for treatment of epilepsy, and states they may prove beneficial against Alzheimer's disease.
History
The concept of high-fat, high-protein diets did not originate with Dr. Atkins. Our nomadic ancestors, whose lifestyle was not amenable to farming, obtained most of their food by hunting, which provided them with diets consisting mainly of animal proteins and fat. PubMed Central's website article, "Ketogenic diets and physical performance," August 17, 2004, cites documentation and studies from the 19th century referring to low-carbohydrate, high-fat/high-protein diets. Lt. Frederick Schwatka furnishes the earliest documented source, 1878 to 1880, in reference to enhanced physical stamina resulting from consuming a ketogenic diet.
On his website, Dr. John A McDougall cites "Letter on Corpulence" by William Banting, published at his own expense in 1864, as the first diet book extolling the benefits of low-carbohydrate dieting. Dr. McDougall's article also offers a brief listing of popular books published from 1961 to 1991 promoting high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets.
Atkins Diet
The Atkins Diet, as outlined in the book "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution," contains four stages:
1. Induction: The initial stage places the dieter in a state of ketosis during which the body burns fat as fuel. For a period of approximately 2 weeks, the foods eaten are high in fat and protein content with 20 g of daily carbohydrate intake.
2. Ongoing Weight Loss: In this stage of the diet, carbohydrate consumption is increased to 25 g per day to allow the body to come out of ketosis. Sugar, white flour and other simple carbohydrates are not allowed.
3. Pre-maintenance: Awareness of foods and situations that contribute to weight gain are stressed during this stage in the attempt to develop a healthier lifestyle. Additional complex carbohydrates and whole grain carbohydrates can now be consumed in 10-g-per-day increments to determine the level at which they can be eaten without causing an increase in weight. If weight gain does occur, carbohydrates are decreased in increments of 10 g.
4. Lifetime Maintenance: At this final stage, the goal weight has been reached and the dieter has established a better understanding of weight control with respect to her own personal threshold of carbohydrate intake.
Conclusion
Lifestyle changes, behavior modification and calorie restriction remain the most viable solution to successful weight loss. In addition, regular exercise helps to burn calories affording dieters the opportunity to avoid drastic reductions in caloric intake. Diets that do not fit the average lifestyle, or restrict one or more food groups, are doomed to failure. Instead, eat a diet that includes fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains (complex carbohydrates), fish (a good source of healthy fats), meats with the visible fat removed, poultry with the skin removed after cooking, legumes, nuts and other protein sources recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on their Food Pyramid (MyPyramid.gov). Consult a physician to discuss your daily caloric requirements and the necessity of any health-related dietary restrictions.
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